Santa Fe Spanish Market - Visit the Traditional and the Contemporary

Traditional Spanish Market
Location: Santa Fe Plaza, Central Old Town Santa Fe
Traditional Spanish Market Website

Sponsor: Spanish Colonial Arts Society
Contemporary Spanish Market
Location: Northwest of the Plaza along Lincoln Avenue.
Sponsor: Santa Fe Council for the ArtsSanta Fe's Spanish Market, held in July, celebrates the colorful Hispanic culture of Northern New Mexico. The tradiitonal Spanish Market features handcrafted arts by 250 local Hispanic artists, music and regional foods. The same weekend, you can also visit the contemporary Spanish Market.The traditional Spanish Market features juried Hispanic arts and crafts. Many items could have been seen in the Spanish Colonial period in Santa Fe in the 1600’s as these crafts have been kept alive over the years. You will see santos, retablos, tinwork, straw art and more.Smaller than the traditional market, the contemporary market features the Hispanic arts of today.Winter Spanish Market takes place in December.Admission is free but art and craft lovers will no doubt part with a little money as they peruse the booths.As always with events in the Plaza area, parking is hard to come by. Wear your walking shoes and park on outlying streets and, of course, come early! If you are luck enough to score a hotel room in the central Santa Fe area, that would be ideal. You can just step outside your hotel and walk to the Spanish Market.The food is wonderful. It is set up in a special area called the "Food Court." Enjoy fajitas, burritos, fruit refrescos, coffee, roasted corn (giant ears), and much more. There are tables and chairs for diners.When I visit Santa Fe, I always want to remember the beauty and spirit of the town. One great way is to buy a poster or art print of Santa Fe to grace your wall at home. [link url=http://affiliates.art.com/get.art?T=15051078&A=859449&L=7&P=6994&S=6&Y=0]Framed and unframed Santa Fe Posters and Prints[/link}.2008 was my first experience with Spanish Market. We walked from my friend's home so didn't have the hassle of parking and, of course, went early!

The market opened at 8am and the vendors were ready for us. We strolled the streets lined with colorful booths enjoying the santos, retablos, tin work, carved heavy furniture, Cordova wood figures, Colcha embroidery and more. It was a feast for the eyes. I have a friend that is in the market for a nice tin mirror and I highly recommend that she attend summer Spanish Market next year. There are many tin vendors and the choices will ensure she finds the best design possible.

As we strolled the shady plaza area, we noticed the booths with young grade school age artists. One wood worker from Cordova, a high school student, had very nicely carved bird sculptures for sale. The prices ranged from $35 - $45 and I have to say, her ability to portray the character and personality of the birds rivaled that of her adult counterparts who were charging $100 plus for similar work.

As we headed down the street where the contemporary Spanish Market was held, we saw more paintings on canvas, tile work and some fun and funky designs. I stopped by the booth of a woman who did cut paper art and had some colorful Day of the Dead designs.

By afternoon, my back was getting a bit weary from walking slowly by the booths and standing to admire the handiwork so I was happy to find that the internationally known musician, Esteban, was about to perform on the stage. All seats were taken, so we plopped down on the grass. Esteban, is a classically trained guitarist whose repertoire, extends to Beatles music and music of the '60's. He was accompanied by his daughers on cello and violin as well as a drummer and trumpet player. It was a rousing hour and a half. Esteban spends some time at his home in Santa Fe and has opened a very nice gallery, Galerie Esteban on Delgado Street near Canyon Road. (Hint: You can purchase any of his CD's at the gallery and just might happen on to a performance). Esteban's Website.

All of the vendors have been through a selection process, are of Hispanic backgrounds and represent the history and local Hispanic culture with their artwork. To attend Spanish Market is not only a great shopping opportunity, it is an a way that you can better appreciate the Spanish heritage of northern New Mexico.